Grateful for Time

Well it's been a long time hasn't it.  Almost a year since my last post and how I've missed it.  I've decided that I need to make time for me and what better way but in my craft time.  I really do need that time for my sanity.  And I do miss the support of this wonderful crafting community.

For my first attempt and getting comfortable with things I decided on the latest Mojo Monday sketch which just happens to be contest week.  I decided on a thanksgiving theme as tomorrow is our Canadian Thanksgiving.  I'm off to dinner tonight with the in-laws.  Anyhow I hope find some kind of inspiration and wish you all my fellow Canadians a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving and to everybody else enjoy a lovely week ahead.

Cheers,
Laural

Heartfelt Thanks

Hello Everyone!  Happy Wednesday!  I thought I would find time to post something yesterday but it just didn't happen.  Meetings and more pounding the pavement for a job.  It's amazing how much the process of finding a job has changed since the last time I had to apply for the job (more than seven years ago).  I wouldn't call it 'pounding the pavement' so much as 'surfing the net' because most of the time the application process tends to be done on-line.  I must say I'm glad to be getting back into the job search now rather than another couple of years.  Who knows how much technology will have changed the process by then!

Anyhow,  here's my card for this weeks CardPatterns sketch and Curtain Call colour challenge.  I took an original approach to those scallops and stamped them with the circles from PTI Polkadot Background Basics I.  Then I created an inviting scene with the On My Couch set and chose a Verve Thanks sentiment stamp to complete a bright and to cheerful Thank You.  I have to say I really like the little punches of red and the Lattice Textured Expressions (SU!) circles underneath the buttons.  What do you think?

Must go get ready for a night of camping coming up.  I'm not much of an outdoorsy person but I'm making a compromise for my kids.  Anyhow I hope your weeks ends even better than it started.  And Happy Canada Day tomorrow to my fellow Canadians =)

Elements

Paper: Whisper White, Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Summer Picnic dp (SU!)

Ink: Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:  Pure Poppy buttons (PTI), linen thread, lattice textured expressions ef (SU!), 3/4" circle punch

Stamps:  On my couch (PTI), Polka dot background basics I (PTI), Heartfelt Thanks (Verve)

Grateful for You

Today's card come from the inspiring EBTKS sketch challenge and pictures I took of the fresh flowers I have in my house.  I must say the one thing I've been enjoying about trying to sell the house is the weekly flower arrangements.  A month later and I've gotten a little smarter and started buying potted plants like Orchids and Cyclamen.  

During our last girls craft night I was telling Maureen of how I was inspired to recreate these roses with paper.  I needed something lighter than cardstock but stronger than tissue, then she showed me her little collection of crepe paper that she so graciously shared with me =)  And here are the results.  I went out of my comfort zone for this card as I don't do a lot of distressing and soft colours.  Would it qualify for shabby chic? I know the ledger paper has become popular or as usual it just going out of style once I think to use it.  It came from the Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend collection.  The fabric brad is from the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses collection.  I'd have to say that my favourite little detail about this card is the light green flourish I paired with the sentiment.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you were encouraged to find inspiration in something around your house.  Happy Crafting

Elements

Paper: Very Vanilla, Boyfriend dp (Cosmo Cricket), Old Olive dp (SU!), crepe paper

Ink: Soft Suede, Old Olive

Accessories: Sizzix flower die, brad (Basic Grey)

Stamps: Delightful Dahlia (PTI), Signature Greetings (PTI), Blessings (Verve)

A Sunny Thank You

Happy Thursday everyone!  Hope your week is going well and have fabulous plans for the weekend.  We have none here.  However, tonight my hubby is taking me out to a movie.  We don't know which one yet but I'll let you know tomorrow.

This post is for that EBTKS sketch challenge that I'm posting late.  Challenge tardiness is probably something I'll have to get use to once we start packing our things.  I'm going to miss having a craft room for a few weeks.  Anyhow, loved this sketch and thought of doing different textures but decided in the end to use different depths in dimension.  

Foam tape has become one of my go to tools since that last Embellish Challenge. The white focus panel and the large polkadot paper are adhered with foam tape while there a couple of trims that are applied only with glue tape.  I used up the little bits of scraps left over from the Scenic Route Ashville collection.  I'm going to miss that paper.  So cheerful and bright.

On the home from we had the house inspectors come this morning to look at our house.  It took 3 hours and because I was babysitting the twins and my daughter was home sick this morning.  I was unable to leave the house.  It's hard to keep your nose out of things when you know they're scrutinizing everything about the house.  I seriously never want to have to do this again.

Steps:

1) Make card from cs

2) Trim different pattern papers in different widths 

3)  Trim focal panel and stamp sentiment.

4) Mat different papers to cs with glue tape and foam tape.

5) Adhere embellishments

Elements

Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Bridgeport (SEI), Ashville (Scenic Route), Bazzill cs

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: Paper flowers (Recollections), Brads (BG), Rhinestones, swiss dot ef

Stamps: Signature Greetings (PTI)

Mad Hatter Tea Party! HOTP Prize

Now what would the Mad Hatter say about a tea party?  That's what I was thinking as I created the card for the current challenge over at Off the Wall Craftiness.  The prize the week is a bundle of supplies from Hot Off the Press.  I've included a picture for you to entice.  There are currently only 4 entries (including mine) so you have a very good chance of winning.  All you have to do is make a card using the inspirational colours from the photo.  It doesn't have to be fancy.  

Mine's was CAS inspired.  I didn't want to get into layers and pattern paper.  I wanted the colours to speak for themselves.  As I went to stamp my tea cups I decided to do something topsy turvy with the cups Kind of like the Mad Hatter himself.  Then it occurred to me exactly what the Mad Hatter would say as he finished sipping his cup of tea. "(Slurp) Ahh, Delightful and delicious to the very last drop!"  Then I added the drops spilling out of the cups and my hand printing to the inside of the card.   I prefer using stamps since I have such unsteady hands....but I had nothing else to use.  The line is slightly slanted but it will do for now.  The little clip in the top right isn't actually part of the card.  I just needed something nice to keep the card together so I didn't get such a shadow through the Label cutout.

Can't wait to see what you create with that inspiring photo.  Happy Crafting. 

PS.  This is my second post of the day so if you have little bit more time please scroll down for another challenge at Wee Memories sponsored by Simon Says.

Paper:  White cs (PTI)

Ink: Green Galore Craft, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Black pen

Accessories: Labels 1 nestie, clear embossing powder

Stamps:  Delightful and Delicious (Verve), Just Dandy (Practicing Creativity)

With Appreciation

So I've had the last Sketch Challenge at EBTKS sitting on my desk for the last couple of weeks.  I've had an idea forming in my head for ages but for whatever reason I didn't find the time to put it together in time.  Bummer because Kelly Marie was giving away a couple of her cute new stamp sets.  But I wanted to finish this idea and show Kelley Eubanks that she came up with an awesome sketch.  Not that she checks my blog but just in case LOL ;)

Since this is an appreciation card it also works for the new Sisterhood of Crafters latest challenge.  Looking back now I should have formed the hills on scrap paper and then trimmed to the height that I wanted.  They are a little too tall  but it was too late after they were taped to the card base  I really like the faux stitched border and the zen feeling of all that green.  The Mixed Messages (PTI) sentiment came in handy because it gives a greeting without taking away from the focal scene.

To go with this appreciation theme I want to thank all of my blog followers and friends.  You inspire and encourage me everyday and I am extremely thankful for that.  I do want to send a special thanks out to my most loyal blog friends who  always make sure to find time to check out my creations and I find it so amazing that they look at my rookie projects when they are so unbelievably talented.  I am going to list them in alphabetical order so that no measure of importance can be made because they are all equally special to me.

1) Courtney 

2) Jessica 

3) Karen 

4) Maureen 

5) Melisa Unfortunately she doesn't have a blog but you can find her wonderful creations on Splitcoast

6) Tanis  

If you find the time be sure to check out these ladies fabulous blogs.  They all have wonderful and different designs and writing styles.  Now thanks to all of you for stopping by and I hope you've been inspired to show your appreciation!

March Viva La Verve #4

Hello friends!  If you came here for the PTI blog hop project please just scroll down.  I'm sorry I didn't put a direct link...I'll be sure to do it next month.

This is my project for the Viva La Verve Week #4 (Just in case you didn't see the post title) LOL.  I knew as soon as I saw the long stripes in the sketch I wanted to stitch them in.  I decided to flip the sketch so that there was less stitching required because it can be very time intensive.  The apron pictured below is the one that I used for my inspiration on colour combo, polka dots, and flowers.

I apologize if I haven't been the best blog friend lately.  I can't believe I only had two posts last week!  This was one of those weeks that proved Life Happens!!  Monday I went to register my son at the school that my daughter has been attending for the last two years only to be told that I couldn't because we didn't reside in the catchment area and they've decided to get really strict with it since there have been a lot of school closures.  The funny thing was that it took many phone calls to countless people to find out exactly what our catchment school was.  Nobody knew because we fall in a grey zone. Our neighborhood school is a school of choice (not our choice) and it's catchment area is city wide. To make a long story short we've been busy doing our best to see that our kids can attend the same school that we have come to know and love.  (I've become known to the principals as the mom from "Smith" Street.  I wonder if that is a good thing?) Since we have yet another son to register into the school we are considering to move within that small catchment area...so we've been house hunting, although we are going to put it off for a little while longer.  Whatever will be, will be.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you've been inspired to use some stitching.

Paper:  Bazzil White, PTI White, Whisper White, SU! dp (polka dots), Raspberry Tart dp (SU!), Pink Pirouette, Rose Red

Ink:  Rose Red

Accessories: Pink cotton floss, scallop border punch, pearls

Stamps: Fell the Sun, Celebration of Thanks (Verve)

March Viva La Verve #2

Just a quick post for my second Viva La Verve sketch challenge of the month.  I was inspired by the turquoise and red of this kitchen with black and white accents.  The background on the turquoise panel was an experiment using the lined portion of the argyle stamp from Key to My Heart (Practicing Crativity).  I really like how it came out with all those criss cross lines.  And it was so easy!!! I find making the true argyle print a little bit nerve racking. I'm such a perfectionist when it comes to making those line match up. The heart is from the Hundred Hearts Verve set and the sentiment is from SU! Simply Said set.  It was hard to find a sentiment that fit on that tiny panel.

Anyhow, I'm still not feeling well today and my hubby is home sick now too.  That's good thing for me because it was very nice to take a nap this morning to make it through the rest of my day.  Hopefully the kids will be in bed early again tonight.  Last night two of them were asleep by 5:30 pm!  

Hope you are all doing well and looking forward to the weekend.  I'm just praying for a healthy one.  I've been stuck at home since Saturday and it sure would be nice to get out of the house...even if it is for the groceries.

Paper:  Black and White cs, Tempting Turquoise, Summer picnic dp (SU!)
Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories:  Real Red Satin Ribbon
Stamps: Key to My Heart (Practicing Creativity), Hundred Hearts (Verve), Simply Said (SU!)

From My Couch to Yours

Good morning everyone!  How's the middle of the week for you?  Mine?...well I thought this cold was gone but it came back with a vengeance for me this morning straight to my sinuses.  Luckily the kids are recovering well. Hopefully, like the week, this is just the climax and then I can actually get some things done around here. 

Here's the results I got a few nights ago for the newest Card Patterns sketch.  I really liked this unique sketch and these longer cards seem to take less time to layout and embellish.  

The paper is from My Mind's Eye and it matched perfectly with my SU! Flower Burst embosslit.  The Flower was turned more into a funky button by punching two holes into it and threading linen thread through and tying.  The couch was stamped in black ink on More Mustard and adhered with dimensionals. With the colours and less focus on the flowers I think it could also be used for a masculine card.  Either way it's a fabulous card to give to a friend or even your significant other :)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are having a wonderful day.  Happy crafting!

Paper:  MME dp, Going Gray, More Mustard, Very Vanilla

Ink: Basic Black

Accessorries: Flower Burst embosslit, linen thread, 1/16" hole punch, dimensionals

Stamps: On My Couch (PTI)

Verve CAS and Colour Challenge

To help me combine both  March Verve Release challenges, I got the chance to use Fall to Layout #81.  What better place to find a CAS sketch than at Clean and Simple Stamping?  And I loved this sketch!!!  In order to meet the flower requirement of the Verve CAS challenge I used die cuts (I didn't have very many flower stamps that would work well).  And to make the sketch more my own I added some faux stitching around the edges. (That part made me a little nervous as I didn't want to have to scrap it and start again).  I didn't have a verve stamp that fit nicely in the sentiment area so I found an alternative. 

I have to admit that the colour combo scared me a little.  A little too retro, but I think once I got the hang of it, the colours made a really striking combination! I'm going to have to try these colours again!  Meanwhile, I've got to get a move on dinner and laundry!  Have a fantastic evening.

Paper:  White (PTI), Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, So Saffron (from the SU! Princess Party Kit)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1" circle punch, cuttlebug flower die
Stamp: Whimsical Wishes

Verve Sketch, Tag, and Recycle challenges

Since four people in this household are ill (including me), it's all about combining challenges this weekend. So I combined as many March Verve release challenges as I could hoping to win a $25 gift certificate. I made the tags from some scraps using my cuttlebug.  The Heartfelt Thanks tag could be used as a bookmark or around a wine bottle.  The top is made from Nestibilities Label 1 dies.  Very handy!! and it was so easy.  It's not embellished but I didn't want to cover up that lovely retro looking paper!  The flower was made by folding my piece of paper and placing it in such a way on the flower layer die that it cut a card rather than two separate flowers.  This tag is meant more for a tiny card on a gift bag.

My next project is a card that combines the sketch challenge and the recycle challenge.  I found the sketch tricky and in the end I didn't love what I came up with but I did get to use one of my favourite stamp sets.  The textured white paper is actually a coffee cup sleeve that I found wrapped around a coffee I had bought just before my daughters music lesson.  That lesson is from 4 until 5 which is around the time that I hit a wall and my energy levels are drained.  The nice thing about those evening is that my hubby is home before me and starts getting dinner ready....plus I get that hot cup of coffee.  Anyhow, I really liked this cup sleeve not only because of the texture but because it was off-white rather than kraft or brown!  So it's been in my scrap bin for a couple of weeks now.  I'll have to stash some more :) 

Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I've made.  Hope your week is wonderful.  We're suppose to be enjoying spring break this week but right now we are just focusing of feeling better.  Thankfully we don't have to be anywhere this week and no one's missing any school.

Tags

Paper: Chocolate chip, Groovy Guava, Nook & Pantry dp (BG), Very Vanilla

Ink:  Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Nesties Labels 1, Flower Layers sizzix die, brown satin ribbon, linen thread, lemon tart button (PTI),  large corner rounder punch

Stamps:  Celebration of Thanks (Verve)

Coffee Success

Paper: White (PTI), Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Nook & Pantry dp (BG), Whisper white

Ink:  Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Circle scissors, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punch, lemon tart twill (PTI), coffee sleeve

Stamps:  Delightful and Delicious (Verve)

February Viva La Verve #4

Ok the last one for February.  I really had a difficult time with this one.  I knew which paper I wanted to use right away and I had what I thought was a fabulous idea in my head but it just didn't quite translate the way I wanted to.  Which is the reason why I have two cards.  I wasn't really crazy about my first card (the one at the bottom). 

I was inspired by this picture that Amber provided on the Verve forum.  The boho flowers are very similar to those in the SU! Raspberry Tart dsp.  And finally I had a new Verve stamp set play with.  My new Hundred Hearts set arrived in the mail yesterday!  The top card has a couple of little details.  There's a heart stamped in Pink Pirouette behind the sentiment and there's some hand stitching just above the border punch.  I know that the white oval probably could have used a layer underneath except the only tool I have to create nice ovals is my Fiskars shape cutter and the next size up was way too big.  I tried a faux border with ink but it just didn't look right.  Now that I think about it I could have tried hand stitching a border.  Oh well!  It's done!

Now my first try I did a paper piecing of a boho flower.  A template I've had in my binder for a couple of years from Scrapbooks Etc.  It's alright, but it just didn't work out the way I hoped it would.  I think it's actually that pink panel at the top. Maybe I should have used my swiss dot ef?  I think it was a good idea it just didn't come out the way I wanted.  It was worth a try ;)

Thanks for taking a peak at my attempts.  I'll be back tomorrow with my Cinema Saturday card and hopefully tonight I'll get my project done for my first ever PTI Blog Hop which takes place tomorrow night. Hope you have all had a wonderful time with these Verve Sketches and if you haven't tried them you really should...it's a lot of fun.  Have a fabulous day and happy  crafting.

True Friend

Paper: Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Raspberry Tart dp (SU!), Whisper White

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Rose Red

Accessories: Bling, Old Olive ribbon, Scallop trim border punch (SU!),  cotton floss, Fiskars shape cutter

Stamps:  Hundred Hearts (Verve)

So Sweet

Paper: Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Raspberry Tart dp, Whisper White, PTI white

Ink:  Rose Red, Old Olive (sponged)

Accessories: Scrapbook Etc. Paper pattern, scallop circle punch, rose red ribbon, 1 1/4" circle punch, Fiskars shape cutter, bling

Stamps: Delightful and Delicious (Verve)

Thanks for your Hospitality!

Good morning everyone!  At least it should be morning when you're reading this!  Unlike me you've probably already gone to bed to enjoy your slumber :)  I'm sorry I haven't posted much this last week.  I have been busy being inspired by all of the wonderful challenges and things you've all been creating.  Anyhow the card I have for you is as bright and cheerful as the last one that I made (thanks for all of your lovely comments by the way).  I'm not usually one for bright orange and yellow but that Scenic Route paper just brings it out in me.  If you aren't a fan of bright colours, please stay tuned for a few mellower and calming cards I made for the Viva la Verve challenges.  I paper pieced the couch and the pillows.  The pillows are attached with glue dots to give them a bit of dimension.  This card I plan to mail to my Grandmother who we went to visit a couple of weekends ago in Vancouver.  Besides cooking lovely meals and keeping a warm house for use to sleep, she and my Uncle looked after the kids while  my hubby and I went out for a night on the town.  Something we haven't done in almost a year. Sad but true :(

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Sunday.  Happy crafting.

Paper:  PTI white, Tangerine Tango, Apricot appeal, Scenic Route dp (Ashville?), SU! dp (Green polka dot)

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive

Accessories:  New Leaf buttons (PTI), Corner Rounder punch

Stamps:  On My Couch (PTI), Sincere Salutations (SU!)